Tea Parties and Rock Bands

We've just wrapped up 2 weeks of school holidays. The schools here take a 2 week break between each term. Most of our other activities also cease. So, no swimming lessons, no kindy, no ballet. This often causes me a lot of grief because I like our normal schedule and I get a little lost without it. But, it also allows the kids a lot more time to actually play. Sometimes, while we are running from one activity to the next, the kids seem to go days without ever seeing their own stuff! I think they really enjoyed having more time to do whatever they wanted and to hang out with each other.

It's pretty normal around here for D to sit down and play with toys in a neat, orderly way. Then, her younger, not-so-orderly, brother tries to join in the fun and causes D a great deal of frustration. We always find a compromise or some solution. Lord knows there are enough toys! But, I can't help but long for the day when the two of them sit down together and cooperate. I delight in the idea that I will walk into the playroom and see D pouring a cup of tea for C. He drinks is with his really cute, loud, slurping sound effect. Perhaps C will share the cake with the dollies sitting nearby. Well, thank you school holidays!!!

Of course, it can't be all pink tea parties and dollies. Not with EITHER of my kids! One day the microphone, electric guitar and amplifier had to come out.

Of course, D is still in princess dress up!

Couldn't get a clear photo of C. He was just rocking too hard! He had all kinds of lyrics, I have no idea what any of them were but it sure sounded like a rock song!

Speaking of C's lyrics, we've added a few new words over the past couple of weeks.

Dinosaur, Jane (his fav lady at daycare), choo-choo, and toot-toot! Keep them coming buddy! Maybe he was singing about Jane and a dinosaur riding trains and tug-boats!

Long Weekend in Sydney

We are home from a fantastic weekend in Sydney, Australia. What an amazing place! It wasn't a relaxing get-away, more of run-yourself-ragged kind of a trip. But the 4 of us had so much fun! We had to run in order to see all the sights of Sydney. We left Thursday, after lunch on a single, direct flight from Perth to Sydney. D was very excited to take only 1 airplane - not 4 - like the journey to the mid-west United States.

We were glad C has finally taken to toy cars, they successfully entertained him when nothing else would do. Of course, his idea of play was letting them roll off the tray-table and laughing while I bent into the aisle to pick them up. This lasted longer than I would have liked.We arrived later in the evening, quickly settled in to our hotel room, and hit the hay.

Friday morning we took the train to Circular Quay where we boarded a ferry to Sydney's Taronga Zoo. The ferry ride offered great views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge. Really big, beautiful sights.

This was a nice zoo. It had some animals that we don't have here at Perth Zoo. It's been awhile since we've seen chimpanzees and hippopotamus. The zoo was a great way to spend the morning. The rest of the day, we spent wandering around the city and parts of the harbor.

Just before heading to the airport I had to run to a nearby baby store to pick up a rain cover for our buggy (the weather forecast for the weekend was all rain, luckily, we only had 1 afternoon of rain). While at the shop, I found a tiny backpack with a strap and parent rein. Perfect for C, who has recently decided he likes to be on foot more and more. He loved the backpack and quickly got used to the rein. For Saturday, we booked advance early bird tickets to tour the Sydney Opera House. This was a great tour! The story of the building of the opera house was amazing and our tour guide was great. It was just an hour which was perfect since we had the kids with us. Not sure they could have handled much more. C enjoyed the video told how the design for the SOH was chosen.Unfortunately, we forgot the camera as we parked the buggy in the cloak room, but we did have our mobile phones with us. The photos aren't as good- but we do have photos. This photo shows the beams that support the roof and windows that look out over beautiful Sydney Harbour.Photography is not allowed in most of the theatres within the opera house but we got lucky in the largest of the theatres. The guide said that this was the only theatre where photography was allowed and only when no one is on stage performing or rehearsing.

It was breathtaking, even D was impressed. She really wanted to go do some ballet on the stage, but that was not allowed. She eventually got over it and we all watched as she did a few of her moves out in the entry.

We left the opera house and jumped on the City Sightseeing Tour- the double-decker bus. These are great and they are in cities all over the world. Pay, ride for the next 24 hours, get off and get back on as many times as you like. It is also great for lulling tired toddlers to sleep. I remember D snoozing on the bus in London and Rome. C's turn! Right in the middle of snack time.

We rode the bus to Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour. Wow! What an aquarium! We snapped this photo at the cool, shark mouth entry! And then D laughing at the penguins.

They do an amazing job of showing the sharks, rays, dugong, all kinds of stuff. And wow do they make the most of the popularity of Nemo! I've never heard so many children shriek, "NEMO! DORY! NEMO! DORY!" D was no exception. She is very sure that Nemo, Marlin, and Dory live in numerous tanks at the Sydney Aquarium. Lots of displays of clownfish and sea anemones. See them in there? Nemo and Marlin in the anemone, Dory off to the right?

Also fun to see my first real-life platypus. We missed them at the zoo so I was glad to view them at the aquarium. Fascinating! Forgive the poor quality of the photo, they are quick and it was dark in there. D loved getting the chance to get her hands wet and touch a starfish. I think she was disappointed though, that they don't actually have a face, like they do in all the cartoons she sees!

Loved the Royal Botanic Gardens! Well timed as the whole family needed some time to run. Well, dad and kids did. I found a park bench to lay down on!

Easter morning was great fun! The Easter bunny visited us in our hotel room, hiding 2 dozen eggs in the most clever of places! Both kids loved the hunt. D started it off and C quickly caught on to the concept, declaring, "YEAH!!!" for himself each time he found one.
We found beautiful St. Patrick's church near our hotel and actually made it to a 9 o'clock mass. I am lacking the usual Easter pictures but there are snaps below taken on Easter, just not the formal poses at the church, in the Easter outfits. :(

After mass, we were back on the bus, and off again at the Australian Museum. This is a natural history museum with some great exhibits and crafts for kids on Sundays. Delaney learned about and made a woolly mammoth. He's not so woolly now, she gave him a haircut when we got home.

They had a super fun area called the Kidspot with all kinds of hands-on science stuff. We could have spent all day in there! Although, all this science, history, and architectural adventure is causing D to ask a lot more questions than usual. I have a whole list of the things to Google tonight!

Awesome dinosaur exhibit! :) Lots to explain :( One of my favorite places was The Rocks Market. Open only on Saturdays and Sundays, people set up their tables and tents and sell all sorts of things. Paintings, clothing, jewelry, food, body glitter. Yes, body glitter. And lucky us, the ladies liked D so much, they gave her some free! I've since swiped it from her suitcase and placed it out of sight. I picked up some lovely jewelry and a hand-painted dress for D. Excited for her birthday to come!

T couldn't argue with my stroll through the market, there was a pub just beside it.

The Rocks is the area of Sydney first settled by the English when they arrived. Lots of beautiful historic buildings and the The Rocks Discovery Museum (which we didn't have time to visit). Would love to spend more time there if we get the chance to go back. Below is C, laughing at Dad's jokes.

After the market we strolled down along the harbor and decided to take the ferry to Darling Harbor. We just missed a ferry and had to wait 30 minutes for the next one. Of course, a crowd built up while we waited and when it cam time to board, T and D were able to slip on, but C and I with the buggy couldn't squeak through the crowd so well, and we were left behind. 30 minutes later, we were first ones on but our ferry made more frequent stops. I wasn't entirely sure where T got off and his phone battery was dead so we ended up returning to Circular Quay and walking, first to our hotel, and then down to Darling Harbor. I thought I might spot them having dinner at one of the many restaurants, but no luck.

The idea of being upset with T did cross my mind. For not charging his phone, for taking off without C and I. But, instead, I declared it "Date Night" for all of us. T and D would have a lovely dinner together. And C and I would do the same.

T and D found a Thai restaurant and shared a meal. C and I went for Italian and ate ourselves silly. The evening ended up being extremely pleasant for all. C and I found a very cool fountain and I let him hop in for just a minute to get his feet wet. He would have preferred to stay in a bit longer, but as you can see, it was getting late and I needed to find our way back to the hotel after a glass of wine or two.

For Monday's activities we chose a train ride to Sydney Olympic Park where The Sydney Royal Easter Show was on. We thought it was a good day to wear the ISU t-shirts, everyone looked pretty sharp!

I blogged (back in October, I think) about the Perth Royal Show. Same thing- but much bigger. It's a lot like the Iowa State Fair. Exhibits, livestock, rides, games, shows. Lots of fun. And what's a royal show (or state fair) without scenes where you poke your head through and have your photo taken? Below are my two bananas in pajamas.

While C napped, D enjoyed great kids entertainment from ABC Kids. On a small stage she saw The Bananas in Pajamas, Postman Pat, and The Koala Brothers. Lots of drama (appropriate for 3-year-olds), music, and dancing. Hooray! Funny pose of her below, she is in the middle of a bouncing, swaying, shaking type dance move.

C is crazy about animals right now and live ones are the bees knees! They had a large petting zoo with calves, lambs, goats, bunnies, etc. I guarantee you, he managed to wiggle in, pet, and have a short conversation with every single baby farm animal, despite the crowds and the backpack with the rein. And amazingly enough, no poo on the shoes!

It was an absolute requirement that we get D's face painted while at the Easter Show. It was offered on Saturday at the aquarium, with a crazy-long line to wait in, that we talked her out of. Darling Harbour offered tons of kids' entertainment on Easter Sunday, including face-painting. We told D she had to finish her lunch before she could go line up, and right as she finished her last bite of chicken, the ladies packed up their paints and left. We owed the girl some face paint on Monday! The lady at the booth didn't disappoint.

We saved the rides for last. D chose the little ferris wheel and made a new friend to ride with.

We used up the last of the ride tickets on the carousel and Mommy and C got a ride on the little train. Lucky us, it started to rain, but was fun anyway.

Also really impressed by another feature at the Easter Show. Displays made entirely of fruit and vegetables! This fish was huge and made of apples!

I recommend Sydney as a top travel destination. I could have stayed a bit longer and taken in more museums, galleries, and, of course, shopping. Maybe we'll get to go back.

Mommy's Day "On Roster"

That means I volunteered to spend the morning in D's classroom. Each family takes a turn once each term. I stayed all morning, until about 11:30.

I wasn't sure what I would be doing while visiting, but I just joined in where ever it looked like some extra hands were needed. I ended up tracing crosses onto paper for the cutting activity and then helping with cutting. I stayed very busy and enjoyed the class very much.

I wasn't sure if D would want me to hang around with her and her friends, or just hang out. She was excited that I was on roster but she seemed to just do her own thing, waving and smiling at me from time to time.

It was fun to be in a classroom again, especially since it was D's classroom. I promised to stay for lunch next term, or maybe I'll send Daddy next time!

Song of the Month

For those of you who have not heard D's new song on Skype, prepare youselves for the following video and subsequent playing of the song in your head for the next couple of days.
I know it's playing in your head too, Mrs. McHardie!

I also tacked on the next short video since the kids were playing so nicely together. In case you haven't noticed, C thinks his big sister is pretty fantastic.